Midterms mark historic firsts across several states and the nation

Tuesday’s midterm elections delivered sweeping victories for Democrats across the country, but the results also marked a series of historic firsts as candidates from underrepresented communities won some of the nation’s highest offices.

From Georgia to New Mexico, voters elected candidates who broke barriers involving race, gender, religion and sexual orientation. The milestones crossed party lines, with Republicans and Democrats alike celebrating historic victories.

"These firsts show how our country is changing," Alexis Anderson-Reed, president and CEO of State Voices, a network of organizations advocating for civic engagement and equity in democracy, said in an email.

"For years, people of color and LGBTQ+ communities have organized, knocked on doors, talked to voters, held conversations, and done the hard work of saving our democracy," Anderson-Reed said. "These wins are because of them."

First Black female governor

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history.

Bottoms also made history in Georgia, becoming the state's first Black governor.

Before her gubernatorial campaign, Bottoms served as Atlanta's mayor from 2018 to 2022, gaining national attention for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests following George Floyd's death. Her victory marks another milestone in a political career that began on the Atlanta City Council.

The win also ended more than two decades of Republican control over the state's governor's office, a Democrat's first win in that spot since 1998. 

Historic victories for Black and Latino governors

Tuesday's elections doubled the number of Black Americans elected governor by popular vote in U.S. history, adding three new names to a list that previously included just three men.

Along with Bottoms in Georgia, Republican Byron Donalds won Florida's gubernatorial race, succeeding term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis and becoming the state's first Black governor.

In Wisconsin, Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Tom Tiffany, becoming the first Black governor elected in the state's history.

Before Tuesday, only three Black Americans had been elected governor by popular vote: L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Wes Moore of Maryland. Moore, the only sitting governor among the three, won reelection to a second term. 

Latinos were also in for a huge night in two of our country’s most populous states. Texas voters staged one of the night's biggest upsets by electing Democrat Gina Hinojosa as the state’s first Latina governor. And a hotly contested race in California, that saw a strong Republican challenger in Republican Steve Hilton, saw a landslide victory for Xavier Becerra, the state's former attorney general.  

First Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed made history in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers.

The race was contentious, particularly after El-Sayed's Democratic primary opponent, Haley Stevens, endorsed Rogers in the general election.

In an early Wednesday victory speech, El-Sayed criticized President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, referring to his upcoming swearing-in as an ironic moment. He also addressed Trump, who has repeatedly mispronounced his name, telling the president to call him "Senator."

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Historic victories for Native American women

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan became the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster.

Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, will make history when she takes office.

In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland defeated Republican Gregg Hull, becoming the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history.

"Tonight, in our nation’s 250th year, I stand before you as the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history," Haaland told supporters during her victory celebration.

Haaland previously made history in 2018 when she became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress.

As of Wednesday morning, another closely watched race involving a Native American candidate remained unresolved.

In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola, a member of the Yup’ik people and the first Alaska Native elected to the U.S. House, remains locked in a close Senate contest as of Wednesday morning against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan.

First openly gay man elected to the Senate

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas won New Hampshire's U.S. Senate race, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the chamber.

Throughout his campaign, Pappas generally avoided making his sexual orientation a central issue, instead welcoming the fact that it was not a significant point of contention among voters.

Historic gains for women in politics

Women also made significant gains in several gubernatorial and congressional races.

Nearly 300 women, including some incumbents, ran for Senate and House seats, according to Rutgers’ Center for American Women and Politics. Democrats did increase their number of female candidates from the midterms of four years ago to 19 running for governor. Republicans had seven women looking for their state's top office. 

Minnesota and Tennessee elected their first female governors. In Tennessee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn beat out Democrat Jerri Green and Minnesota saw Sen. Amy Klobuchar come out on top against Lisa Demuth, who was seeking to become the first Black female governor. 

Illinois also saw historic developments in its U.S. Senate races.

Democrat Juliana Stratton won election to the Senate, becoming one of the state's first women of color elected to the chamber, alongside incumbent Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is of Thai heritage.

Stratton's victory also means three Black women will serve in the U.S. Senate simultaneously, marking another milestone for representation in Congress.
 

 

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